NHTSA Complaint #10852948 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVING, I WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FEEL A GRITTY/CHUNKY MOTION. SO I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS WERE BAD AND TO HAVE THE SHAFT REPLACED. I ORDERED PART NUMBER BE8Z3A525B FROM FORD AND ONCE I OPENED IT, THE JOINTS FELT THE EXACT SAME WAY MY CURRENT STEERING SHAFT FEELS. IT IS GRITTY AND FEELS LIKE A GRINDING MOTION. I TRIED TO RETURN THE PART AND WAS INFORMED THEY WERE ALL MADE THE SAME WAY AND THAT IT IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL, NO CAR OR EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE A GRITTY FEEL, THEY SHOULD ALL BE SMOOTH. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE STEERING SHAFT COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS FIESTA AND REQUEST FORD RECALL THE STEERING SHAFT AND CORRECTLY MAKE THEM TO BE SMOOTH.